Conditional Clauses – Free Exercise

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Exercise

Real Condition
Complete the sentences.

  1. Wenn (ich/haben/Zeit)  , lese ich gerne Zeitschriften.|Wenn + subject + … + finite verb (at the end)When I have time, I like to read magazines.
  2. Wenn ihr mich besuchen kommt, (ich/backen/Kuchen)  |the part of the sentence without wenn is a completely normal main clause|The wenn-clause comes in first position. Because the finite verb must always come in second position, the subject is moved after the verb.If you come visit me, I’ll bake a cake.
  3. Er möchte nicht gestört werden, wenn (er/lernen/für die Prüfung)  |Wenn + subject + … + finite verb (at the end)He doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s revising for a test.
  4. (ich/können/abholen/dich)  , wenn du den Weg nicht kennst.|the part of the sentence without wenn is a completely normal main clause → subject + finite verb + … + infinitive verbI can pick you up if you don’t know the way.
  5. Wenn es regnet, (wir/bleiben/zu Hause)  |the part of the sentence without wenn is a completely normal main clause|The wenn-clause comes in first position. Because the finite verb must always come in second position, the subject is moved after the verb.If it rains, we’ll stay home.

Unreal Condition (Present)
Complete the sentences.

  1. Wenn (ich/sein/reich)  , würde ich eine Weltreise machen.Wenn + subject + … + finite verb (at the end)|Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of sein → wäre|with sein we generally don’t use the würde-formIf I were rich, I’d go on a trip around the world.
  2. Wenn du vor den Tests besser lernen würdest, (du/müssen/keine Angst haben)  |the part of the sentence without wenn is a normal main clause|The wenn-clause comes in the first position. Because the finite verb always has to come in the second position, the subject moves after the verb.|Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of müssen → müsste|with the modal verbs we generally don’t use the würde-formIf you studied better for the tests, you wouldn’t have to be so nervous.
  3. Wenn ich einen Kompass hätte, (ich/geben/euch/ihn)  the part of the sentence without wenn is a normal main clause|The wenn-clause comes in the first position. Because the finite verb always has to come in the second position, the subject moves after the verb.|Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of geben → gäbe|here, the würde-form is also possible (würde geben)|If the direct object is a pronoun, it moves before the indirect object (ich gebe euch den Kompass – ich gebe ihn euch)If I had a compass, I would give it to you.
  4. Ich wäre euch sehr dankbar, wenn (ihr/helfen können/mir)  |Wenn + subject + … + finite verb (at the end)|Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of können → könnte|with the modal verbs we generally don’t use the würde-formI would be grateful if you could help me.
  5. (die Kinder/spielen/draußen)  , wenn das Wetter besser wäre.|the part of the sentence without wenn is a normal main clause|Here, we have to use the würde-form, because Subjunctive I (Konjunktiv I) and II don’t look any different from the indicative form.The children would play outside if the weather were better.

Unreal Condition (Past)
Complete the sentences.

  1. Sie wären zur Feier gekommen, wenn (sie plural/nicht verpassen/den Zug)  Wenn + subject + … + finite verb (at the end)|verpassen forms the compound tense with haben|Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of haben → hätte|past participle of verpassen → verpasstThey would have come to the party if they hadn’t missed the train.
  2. Wenn du nicht so viel gegessen hättest, (du/bekommen/keine Bauchschmerzen)  the part of the sentence without wenn is a normal main clause|The wenn-clause comes in the first position. Because the finite verb must always come in the second position, the subject moves after the verb.|bekommen forms the compound tense with haben|Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of haben → hätte|past participle of bekommen → bekommenIf you hadn’t eaten so much, you wouldn’t have got a stomachache.
  3. Wenn ihr mitgemacht hättet, (wir/fertig werden/schneller)  the part of the sentence without wenn is a normal main clause|The wenn-clause comes in the first position. Because the finite verb must always come in the second position, the subject moves after the verb.|werden forms the compound tense with sein|Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of sein → wäre|past participle of werden → gewordenIf you had helped, we would have finished sooner.
  4. (er/teilnehmen/am Marathonlauf)  , wenn er nicht krank geworden wäre.the part of the sentence without wenn is a normal main clause → subject + finite verb + … + infinite verb|teilnehmen forms the compound tense with haben|Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of haben → hätte|past participle of teilnehmen → teilgenommenHe would have taken part in the marathon if he hadn’t got sick.
  5. Ich hätte mich früher bei dir gemeldet, wenn (ich/finden/deine Telefonnummer)  Wenn + subject + … + finite verb (at the end)|finden forms the compound tense with haben|Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of haben → hätte|past participle of finden → gefundenI would have called you sooner if I had found your phone number.